Dear Robert,
Your letter is dated April 15th. Interestingly, I haven't yet received it. Gee, certified mail takes an awfully long time.
Thank you, by the way, for posting my street address. That was thoughtful. I've edited your original post to remove it.
Though others have already done so, I feel compelled to respond.
RobertF said:
The totals given above are referenceable and documentable. We have to document everything given the scrutiny that we live under.
Same here.
Anybody here try to get to a literary agent that will actually talk to a new author? It doesn't happen.
Nonsense.
So what happens because of Ms. Strauss and others, is that a new author goes through our process, does some research and then gets scared off.
That's the idea, yes.
We would have that author in front of real buyers within 30 days. That's the real truth, you can spend the rest of your life looking for an agent that will take you on for 'free', or you can get into a process that will tell you if your work is sellable very quickly.
It that's the case, you have a unique knack for taking on unsellable manuscripts. Let's see, in nearly four years of operation (you took over ST Literary Agency--oops, Stylus Literary Agency, then known as Sydra Techniques, in 2001) you claim, what is it, three sales? Four? The Literary Group, the successful agency whose name is similar to the name of your new enterprise, probably sells that many manuscripts in a month.
Our Agencies are willing to incubate new authors. We're willing to spend time working with them to improve their work We present options to them and they can choose any company that they choose for the services they need.
Services you own and/or run, from which you make a secret profit (since the connection isn't disclosed to clients). Documentation I've collected shows that you're referring clients to (at least) two different editing services, both run by the same individual, who also worked or works as an agent for ST Literary Agency--oops, Stylus Literary Agency; and (at least) one illustration service, run by RapidPublishing, which processes ST Literary Agency's--oops, Stylus Literary Agency's--invoices. Recommending that clients use a third-party service from which the agency receives a profit is a practice that has been so extensively abused that it's prohibited by the AAR.
we've offered to publish an interview with Ms. Strauss on numerous occassions.
That must have been some other Ms. Strauss, because I don't remember ever getting such an offer.
Seriously, though, this sounds like a great idea. I accept your offer. I'd love to do an interview. Bring on the questions!
We are beginning a series of lawsuits against her and other bulletin board moderators and posters.
This I will believe when I see it.
---------------------------------------------------
Responding now to the lawyer letter:
Gosh, the US mail is inefficient! I'm still waiting.
Mr. Fletcher advises that you have contacted one of his clients Michael Graham
Mr. Graham is not a writer, but an illustrator who worked on the self-published book of a business associate of Mr. Fletcher's. I somehow doubt he's a client, but since the empire is obviously expanding I suppose it's not beyond the realm of possibility.
I did contact Mr. Graham, because I found Mr. Graham's illustrations on the website of RapidPublishing.com (the service that clients of Fletcher's Children's Literary Agency are encouraged to use), and wondered if he was aware of this.
and circulated untrue and derogatory statements about him and his businesses. These statements include, but are not limited to, untruths such as that he is engaging in unprofessional conduct in the publishing industry, that he does not disclose his interest in services he recommends to clients, and that he and his company are dishonest and guilty of unfair business practices.
I've made these same statements many times in many different venues. They're either fully supported by documentation in my possession, or identified as my opinion. (Jaws has trained me well.)
These statements adversely affect the reputation of Mr. Fletcher and his businesses. We have advised Mr. Fletcher of his rights under applicable defamation laws for such statements in the form of injunctive relief and the award of money damages.
OK. But it's not defamatory if it's true (you knew that, right?)
Accordingly, demand is hereby made that you immediately cease and desist circulating any further derogatory statements about Mr. Fletcher and his businesses. Demand is also hereby made for a public retraction and apology for these statements, within ten (10) days.
I'll note (again) that I haven't received this letter.
Lessee. April 15th to April 22nd is seven (7) days. Time is running out!
Your failure to respond as demanded herein shall be considered as an intention on your part to refuse to amicably resolve this dispute between you and Mr. Fletcher. You will therefore leave us no choice but to advise our client concerning the avenues available under Florida and other applicable laws to enjoin publication of defamatory statements and recover money damages.
Be my guest.
Very truly yours,
- Victoria Strauss
